Coupler



July 6, 1937. v. J. TICHOTA El AL 2,086,056

COUPLER Filed March 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3mm Vncel J TZICfLOC'a ML'LZLMLI c-s Patented July 6, 1937 COUPLER Vencel J. Tichota, Dodge, and Neil H. Mapes,

Fremont, Nebr.

7 Application March 25, 1936. Serial No'. 70.864

lClaim. (or. 280-3316) This invention relates to a coupler designed primarily for connecting a plow or the like to a tractor or other draft means.

It is an object of the invention to provide a' coupler which will operate automatically to release the plow or the like from the pulling means should the plow engage a stump, boulder, or other unyielding object in the path thereof.

Another object is to provide a release device which can be actuated by the operator when so desired.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will automatically couple the tractor or the like to the plow or other structure to be pulled, the coupling operation being eifected by moving the parts against each other.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from, the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a tractor and of a plow or the like, the same being joined by the coupler constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coupler.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the coupler showing the parts in the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the first step in automatically coupling a tractor or the like to a plow.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the next position of the parts during the automatic coupling operation and before reaching the positions shown in Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a View similar to Figures 4 to 6, showing one of the positions of the parts while being automatically uncoupled.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the parts being uncoupled by the operator.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference A designates a tractor having a cross bar B from which is extended a tongue C having an elongated slot D.

A plow or other structure to be pulled is indicated at E and has the present improvementsattached thereto.- These include an elongated tongue I having a downturned forward end 2 forming a guide ear' and connected to the tongue and extending thereabove and parallel therewith is a guide pin 3.

Slidable in the ear 2 are parallel stems 4 each provided at its front end with a head 5, the two heads being joined ,byfa transverse pivot bolt'G. Springs 1 are mounted on stems 4 and bear at their forward ends against ear 2 while their back ends thrust against nuts I0 adjustably mounted on the stems 4. Thus the heads 5 are held normally pressed back against ear 2.

Pivotally mounted on the bolt 6 is an angular coupling pin II preferably L-shaped and the free end of which is adapted to move into position over the adjacent end of tongue I which, as shown at I2, is centrally slotted. The other end of this coupling pin, which is engaged by pin or bolt 6 and supported between heads 5, has a stop ear I3 and a tripping finger I4 extended from it. The tripping finger is disposed substantially parallel with the free end portion of pin II 7 while the stop ear is adapted to move against guide ear 2 when the finger I4 is moved into an upwardly inclined position, thereby to limit the swinging movement of the pin II and finger I4 upwardly away from tongue I.

A slide I5 is mounted on tongue I between ear 2 and the secured end of guide pin 3. This slide carries a tubular keeper l6 one end of which receives the guide pin 3 and is engaged by one end of a coiled spring I! mounted on pin 3. This spring serves to hold the keeper normally pressed forward to the end of tongue I. A push plate I8 is extended upwardly from the forward end of keeper I6 and is provided for the purpose hereinafter described. I

In practice the keeper I6 is thrust back against spring I! from the, position shown in Figure 2 so as to release pin II and allow it to be swung.

forwardly to the position indicated by broken" lines in Figure 5 at which time the stop ear I3 will press against guide ear 2. The tractor and/or plow are then moved toward each other so that tongue C will be brought into position with pin II- projecting upwardly into slot D and finger I4 projecting across the end of the tongue. By then backing the tractor the end of the tongue will press against finger I4 and movepin II first to the position shown by full lines in Figure 5 and then to the position shown in Figure 6. Further backing of the tractor and its tongue C will cause the front end wall of slot D to press against pin I I and cause the end of the pin to thrust against plate l8 and push keeper l6 back until the end of the pin has been brought to the position shown in Figure 4, whereupon spring I! will move the keeper forwardly into engagement with the pin and hold it against movement as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Springs '3 are strong enough to withstand the resistance of the plow or other object being drawn under ordinary conditions. However, should the drawn structure be stopped by contact with a stump or the like, springs I would yield and pin H would pull heads .5 forwardly a sufiicient distance to withdraw the pin from keeper 16. Thus the pin would be free to swing to the position shown in Figure 7 and release the plow or other pulled structure from the tongue C.

Whenever the operator desires to uncouple the parts, it is merely necessary for him to thrust with his heel H against plate l8, as shown in Figure 8. Thus the keeper will be pushed back off of pin ii and the parts can be separated readily. When the heel is removed from plate 48, the spring I1, which, when released, has a tendency to move to the position shown in Figure 6, will be kicked back by the spring impelled keeper l6 and plate [8 so as to be thrown from the position shown in Figure 6 toward the position shown in Figure 5, thereby facilitating the uncoupling operation.

What is claimed is:

A coupling comprising a slotted element, a member for attachment to a structure to be pulled, a yieldingly restrained head slidably supported by said member, a keeper slidable on said member, a spring for exerting a thrust upon the keeper, a push plate extending from the keeper for engagement by the foot of an operator to shift the keeper against and to compress said spring, an angular coupling pin pivotally supported by the head, means movable with the pin and cooperating with said member for supporting the pin in an upwardly extended position within the slot in said element, and a tripping device movable with the pin and cooperating with said element to swing the pin through the slot and. against the push plate to thrust said keeper out of normal position and release it for engagement with the pin to hold the pin against pivotal movement, said spring, while-compressed, constituting means for actuating the keeper when freed from foot pressure and while released from the pin, to kick the pin toward full uncoupled position.

VENCEL J. TICHOTA. NEIL H. MAPES. 

